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Alleged USC shooter charged with four counts of attempted murder

The man arrested in connection to the shooting at a USC Halloween party has been charged with four counts of attempted murder, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office said Monday afternoon.

Authorities say Brandon Spencer, 20, opened fire on four people, including former Crenshaw High School football star Geno Hall, at an Oct. 31 on-campus party in what is believed to be a gang-related shooting.

The shooting -- which appears to be the first on-campus shooting at USC in two decades -- occurred in the heart of campus, putting the student body on edge and prompting discussion of changes to the university's oversight of on-campus parties and open-campus policy.

Student leaders of the Black Student Assembly and Programing Board, which co-sponsored the Halloween party, as well as the Undergraduate Student Government have said they will review all policies regarding the sponsorship of on-campus parties. USC President C.L. Max Nikias told The Times in an email last week that he plans to announce policy changes this week.

Deputy District Attorney Antonella Nistorescu, of the hard-core gang division, will prosecute the case and request a bail of $2.04 million at an arraignment later Monday. If convicted, Spencer will face life in prison.

Photo: Eugene Hall holds a photo of his son Geno, a former Crenshaw High School football star who was shot at a Halloween party at USC last week. Geno Hall is recovering from several bullet wounds, his father said. Credit: Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times